Stobzilla(Annah) VS Cal - All-time 3 yr peak - Auction draft

[Annahnomoss]

TEAM STOBZILLA

Chilavert

Spoiler

Busted. I thought nobody would watch the GK write-up. Goalkeepers are supposed to prevent goals, not score them. But no-one seemed to have told Jose Luis Chilavert.

The outspoken, and sometimes controversial, Paraguayan made a name for himself not just between the sticks but at the other end of the field as well. An imposing presence with a huge build and a matching personality, Chilavert captained his country at two World Cups and was one of the best shot-stoppers in the world. But he also mastered the art of taking penalties and free-kicks. Chilavert amazingly scored 62 goals during his career, and his record of eight in 74 internationals is impressive when you consider he hardly ever ventured out into open play.

V.R Andrade(by Anto)

Spoiler

Víctor was José Leandro Andrade's nephew. He idolised his uncle so much he insisted on being referred to using both his parents' surnames, otherwise he would have just been one of a million Rodríguez's. He played as a right halfback just like him, although he was stronger in defensive phases while somewhat less adventurous going forward. Not that he didn't do it, but he was far more defensively sound than anyone around so it was usually the case that if one of the two had to play a more conservative game he would be the one doing it.

That tactical discipline and submission to what the team needed was further demonstrated at the 1950 World Cup when, in the absence of good quality leftbacks and with a fair few good rightbacks around, it was Rodríguez Andrade who was deployed on the left with Juan Carlos González on the right and then Gambetta when he got injured against Spain.

Gambetta was a good rightback and, in fact, the one the dribble is named after in South America (gambeta). His classic runs piling up rivals are referred to as "gambetear" to this day. However, he had spent the first half of the tourno messing about and acting as the official team photographer (he was a character), which may have contributed to him having an absolute mare against Sweden. With Zizinho starting on his side and Zizinho-to-Ademir being a proven devastatingly effective route to goal, things looked ominous. So Uruguay surprised Brazil on the day by starting Rodríguez Andrade on the right and Gambetta on the left.

Within five minutes though, the entire issue was sorted. The first or second time Zizinho gets the ball Víctor puts in one of those skeleton-busting tackles which are honest but dare you to try what dishonesty could be like. Zizinho didn't want to, and was largely anonymous for most of the game. Ever since then it has been a tried and tested stratagem, culminating in 1986 when Batista forgot the honest part of it and got himself into the record books as the fastest sending off in WC history. To make it an even more spectacular fail, Gordon XXX wasn't someone who would stop playing as a result.

But I digress. As the game progressed it was increasingly clear that Gambetta was fully focused and having a good game, but being on the left was occasionally presenting him some challenges. Still, Brazil was looking far more dangerous on the left, while Víctor's talent was getting pissed away on the right... So they swapped back. The odd thing was Brazil then swapped Zizinho and Jair. It has never been clear whether it was to keep Andrade away from Jair or because as soon as they swapped Gambetta tried to make a point to Zizinho and actually slid through him (Zizinho had been injured earlier in the WC and keeping people away from injury was important given no subs at the time). Or it may be a coincidence, feck knows, Jair wasn't one to follow tactical instructions anyway. Once Brazil scored he was supposedly asked to drop deep and help out his teammates who were struggling to contain Ghiggia. Apparently the instruction "didn't reach him".

The one time Zizinho and Ademir managed to link-up well Brazil scored through Friaca. Some say the linesman had actually raised his flag but then hid it up his arse when the stadium exploded in celebrations. Varela certainly hadn't seen that, his entire argument with the ref and linesman was predicated on one basic fact: rapid as Friaca was, there was no way he could beat Andrade in a sprint thus had to have been offside. He actually remained convinced to his death that the argument was watertight.

In any case, the Ghiggia show had long started and was about to bear fruit.

Four years later, Rodríguez Andrade was one of the main stars in the side (which had by now got itself a leftback). I've never come across anyone who could unequivocally say one tourno was better than the other, lots of ifs and buts and largely "he was just amazing in both". One fact that adds to this is how the semifinal unravelled. Puskas watched it from the stands and concluded Rodríguez Andrade was the best he had ever seen in his position. Czibor had scored, yes, but he had done the best job on him he had ever seen. Unfortunately, late in the first half of ET Andrade suffers a muscle tear. That was the tipping point, for the remaining 15-20 minutes Czibor had the freedom of that flank and the Czibor-Kocsis highway reactivated. Within a few minutes Hungary doubled their goal tally and put paid to the game.

José Emilio Santamaría Iglesias

Spoiler

(born 31 July 1929) is an Spanish-Uruguayan former football player and coach. He is regarded by many as one of the all-time greatest central defenders. A strong, uncompromising player, he is one of the relatively few players to star for two national football teams.

Santamaría played in defence for Nacional de Montevideo and was first called up to play for the Uruguay national team for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. He was selected to fill an inside-forward slot in the squad, but his club refused to let him join the squad on the grounds that he was a defender. Hence he missed Uruguay's second World Cup victory. Four years later though, he was an integral part of the Uruguay team at the World Cup finals in Switzerland. Convincing wins over Scotland, Czechoslovakia and England were followed by semi-final defeat by Hungary and a 3-1 loss to Austria in the third-place play off match.
Santamaría's performance in the World Cup had been enough to attract the attention of Real Madrid, to whom he transferred in 1957. Real were dominating European football at the time, and Santamaria won three consecutive European Cup titles and the World Club Cup

Da Guia

Spoiler

Domingos Antônio da Guia nicknamed the "the Divine Master" was a Brazilian footballer. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in Flamengo and Corinthians history, as well as the all time best brazilian defender.

He quickly rose to fame as one of Bangu's key players (central defender) between 1929-1932. Despite the fact Bangu had a history of fielding black players (Francisco Carregal was the first in 1905) Domingos witnessed racism in football as he was growing up. Seeing the brutality that some of the black players received is believed to have inspired Domingos's extraordinary ability to dribble with the ball and avoid defenders, a trait which Brazilians would become famous for around the world.

I will offer a couple of fragments from Argentine publications which give an idea of how Da Guia is regarded in Argentina

Translated from Boca Juniors 100 year anniversary collection book.
'In 1935 the team adquired Domingos Da Guia, a defender who was a catalog of class. The Brazilian was a central marker of inmense category. Great with his timing, skillfull with the ball, and never resorting to violence, he had shined with the verdeamarelha - he later played at the 1938 World Cup - and he formed an impassable tandem with Valussi, who was more of a tough guy and a fighter. Da Guia became a champion with teams from three countries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The day he arrived to the port of Buenos Aires, a huge crowd was waiting for him. The Ebony statue, as he was known in Brazil, descended from the boat in an impecable suit of white linen, and he put all of us in his pocket forever.'

Here are some other commentaries profiling the attributes of Da Guia:
'He is considered the best Brazilian defender of all time, and the first to take risks and innovate his position. The way he played led a revolution in football, since the ball didn't 'burn' Domingos. He liked to keep it next to his foot, and he never punted it away, which is what most defenders at the time habitually did. Watching him was true entertainment, and if that isn't enough, he was also solid and consistent in his marking.'

 

[Annahnomoss]

J.A Camacho

Spoiler

Jose Antonio Camacho Alfaro was born in Cieza (Murcia), June 8, 1955. He is the youngest of five children born in the marriage of Mr. Antonio Camacho and Mrs. Gregoria Alfaro. When the young Jose Antonio was 6 years old he moved with his family to Albacete, where it begins to kick for the first time a football ball.

With sixteen years makes his debut with the youth team football Albacete, lining up as a left midfielder. Soon he was known for his football qualities and is called to the youth national team by then national coach Hector Rial. Three matches he played for the Spanish youth team which serve him to jump to the first team of Albacete, which, at that time, played in the First Regional (5th Division).

But little time he was to remain in this category. Real Madrid is interested in the young player. And, of course, comes at the same time FC Barcelona. However, Camacho decides to accept the call of the Real and a few days later travels to the capital of Spain for a test in which he has to defend a man who with the passing of the years would be, like Camacho, legend of Real Madrid: Carlos Alonso "Santillana".

The test could not be more satisfactory. A few months later, March 1973, Camacho signed for the Castilla, Real Madrid's reserve team. Camacho started the season 1973/74 with the reserves and becomes one of the pillars of the team. His great performance serves to make the leap to the first team when had not finished the season. He debuts in Malaga, in a match that Real Madrid lost 1-0. It was five games to complete the league and Camacho would not move from the first team.

The misfortune visited Camacho when he lived his best football. During a training with the team, January 5, 1978, suffered a serious injury with torn meniscus and cruciate ligaments in his left knee that kept him away from the pitch for almost two years. After a first surgery, which did not produce the desired results, Camacho went back through surgery in the city of Paris on March 2, 1979.

The bravery and effort of Jose Antonio Camacho, even in training, led him to suffer the worst injury can hit a player. For more than twenty months Camacho suffered the unspeakable to return to put on his football boots, but in the end, based on sacrifice and determination, he returned to the pitch where waited for him many days of glory. It was the revival of "Phoenix Bird".

As a player was noted for his iron defenses, anticipation and speed, but why he marked an era at Real Madrid and the Spanish national team was, without doubt, his spirit of sacrifice and dedication, their desire to win and charisma that helped teamwork especially .

During the 16 years he played for Real Madrid, he won 9 Spanish leagues, 4 Spanish cups (Copa del Rey) and 2 UEFA Europe cups as main titles. Camacho played his last official match for Real Madrid on June 30, 1989. After he stayed at Real Madrid as coach of the youth teams (Castilla). Then with the passing of the years, climbed the ladder rungs of the Spanish coaches to become national coach, in a successful career.

Lorenzo (by Anto)

Spoiler

Lorenzo Fernández, aka "El Patrón de la Cancha" (The Master of the Pitch) or, for anyone in Uruguay, Lorenzo. As with Obdulio, nobody will ask "Lorenzo Who?" or "Which Lorenzo?", to this day Lorenzo is Lorenzo Fernández, any other Lorenzo needs a surname. The Master of the Pitch isn't just a cool nickname, from 1930-1935 the Centenario Stadium, the largest in the world at the time, was referred to as "Lorenzo's Digs" for consistency.

A dockworker (longshoreman) by trade, he was strong and tough as nails even by the usual centre-half standards of those days. The Uruguayan team's masseusse once commented that giving him a massage was like trying to massage a lampost. Even after becoming an Olympic and World Champion he carried on working in the docks until 1932, when the professional era started.

Over the course of eight years, he won 5 Uruguayan titles with Peñarol, against a Nacional which actually had more key players in the NT but, cruciallly, not what was really called the "Iron Curtain": Peñarol's Silva-Fernández-Gestido midfield, with Andrade replacing Silva for the NT. He also won a Copa América and 4 out of 6 Lipton/Newton Cups (an yearly event with Uruguay and Argentina facing each other). Both him and Uruguay would have probably won more had the Argies not thrown their toys out of the pram after losing in 1930, deciding to pass on continental tournos until that generation was gone (1930-1935 ).

An indefatigable and courageous centre-half, Lorenzo also had a knack for scoring important goals, including the first one Peñarol scored in the professional era against their eternal rivals Nacional. With a key forward injured, he was once switched to inside left for a Copa América game and bagged a hat-trick. But it wasn't his goals but his competitiveness and sheer will to win which set him apart. He simply couldn't lose, at anything.

In the days before the World Cup, a bunch of players decided to have a game of volleyball with the loser paying for the afternoon biscuits for everyone. Lorenzo's teammates, Cea and Anselmo, decided to have a laugh and agreed they would throw the game. They just stood there, arms raised, going through the motions but not being much use. Lorenzo didn't give up, he was all over the place, ranting and raving at his partners who in turn kept commenting on what a poor game he was having. Once the game was inevitably lost, Lorenzo paid his dues, walked into his room at the training camp, packed his bags and left. At the door he came across the President of the Uruguayan FA, who asked him where he was going: "I'm going home. These guys can't even win a game of volleyball for the biscuits, no chance they can win a World Cup". He ranted on for half an hour with Mr. Narancio feeling he had been transported to a parallel universe of irrational behaviour, then run out of steam and Mr. Narancio managed to talk him back into the camp.

Another time in 1935, prior to the Copa America in Perú the players went to the dog races. A local tipster approached him and talked him into a bet, which Lorenzo won. Thrifty as he was, he banked half his winnings every turn and bet the other half, so he was well in the money after the tips proving good seven times in a row. It still didn't stop him chasing the tipster down the stand, over the fence, and around the racecourse, after the eighth tip went south.

Like Obdulio, he had a major influence in the dressing room. At half-time during the Final, with the scoreline 1-2 to the Argies, Lorenzo tells the players "If we lose this I'm going to kill each and every one of you", to which Nasazzi added "He kills you, and I bury you". Pedro Cea would later say he really would have been capable of doing it. Four years later the Italians would receive a similar threat, not from Fernández obviously, or Monti, but from Il Duce himself.

A familiar trait/pattern with such players

Again, like Obdulio (who organised the first player strike), Lorenzo was quite vocal about the rights of his fellow professionals. In an episode which very much reminds me of Keane's final days with us, he took on the Peñarol Board after they didn't pay their wages for a couple of months. Peñarol had lost the league in 1934 and there was talk of the end of an era with many players on their last legs. Lorenzo was at the tail end of his career, 35 and making up for it with his sheer bloody-mindedness. He took on the Peñarol Board publicly, with the support of players and the fans who idolised him, in a tirade not too different to Keane's reference to prawn sandwich brigades and people who know nothing about footballl interfering with it.

A newspaper owned by the deposed previous Peñarol President latched onto it and kept adding fuel to the fire and a General Assembly was called. A few weeks prior the Peñarol Board paid up the wages, so when the Assembly came the players weren't that bothered any more but Lorenzo tore into each and every one of the Board members. Finding no backing from his fellow professionals, he tore into them as well, callling them spineless and saying it was no wonder they had lost the title...

It was so shocking that no one was surprised when he got suspended indefinitely without pay. The opposition media carried on with their political agenda and kept putting pressure on the Board calling for another Assembly for the club members to decide who stayed: the Board or Fernández. In the meantime, a crucial event: Peñarol started winning and regained the top of the table, became champions by the time the Assembly came... and fans being a fickle bunch they supported the Board, who sacked Lorenzo the next day.

It's interesting that all the way back in the 30s, the post mortem of the case (written by my grandad, a Nacional fan so quite happy to stick it in ) was: "Football players... We build them up to be superhumans above us mere mortals, it gets to their head, and they forget how vulnerable they are to the fickle nature of fans and the greater political nous of their masters. Here lies Lorenzo Fernández, his reputation in tatters for displaying the same pig-headedness that always served him so well in a different arena". Some things never change.

 

[Annahnomoss]

Danny Blanchflower

Spoiler

As this is quiet and I am reading some "books" from his managers and himself, I'll try to remove the part about his life and the story outside the football pitch in general. Can't directly quote anything, so have to write it all.

"With renewed vigour and confidence in himself Danny[Blanchflower] saw out the season with Barnsley, playing some of his finest football to date. Where he had always excelled going forward, his defensive game was now improving. In a game against Hull he came up against Raich Carter, The Barnsley Chronicles reported: "This was a shadow of the real Raich Carter, the Hull player-manager. The man who made the magic in the master's foot look miserably mediocrity was Blanchflower. When he was not checking a raid by Carter and company, he was prompting his forwards with a series of passes that traveled as smooth as the waters of Lough Neagh, near his native Belfast."

Michael Parkinson wrote about the glorious impact Danny had on his teammates and Gavin Smith, the outside right. "Danny would point, Gavin would gallop and at the precise moment he most wanted the ball, it would arrive in his path, perfectly weighted and so inviting it should have been edged in gilt."

"If others didn't need the early guidance[to make it as a top player] that Danny gave Maurice Norman, his leadership on the field helped later signings like Cliff Jones, John White, Les Allen and even Jimmy Greaves make the most of their ability"

He was one of the greatest tacticians of all time and as a player and captain he often made match winning tactical switches to counter the opponent managers game-plan. In a game versus West Ham at 3-1 down, he decided to send his last defender up on the corner kicks as he realized their presence was something West Ham struggled with during the game - which made for a great late equalizer. Things of the ordinary for Danny who thought he just did the job as a captain for his team when the newspapers lauded him with complements for being a genius of a footballing general. For Northern Ireland it was the same story as the manager Peter Doherty gave him the go ahead to make on field changes as he thought necessary.

"The biggest problem facing Spurs was the treatment Villa were giving Blanchflower. The Villa manager, Joe Mercer had decided to put Blanchflower out of the game" by man marking him. Some Tottenham players wouldn't pass to Danny as he was so tightly marked." Danny saw an opportunity to make man marking him in to something positive. "I took my Shadow back in to his own defense and advised[teammate] John White to exploit the space I created".

At half time Danny brought it up again to the entire team and asked why they wouldn't give him the ball.Tthe defenders replied that "You're marked" what to Danny replied "That is what Villa wants. You are doing their job for them! The solution is push-and-run, we're supposed to be good at that aren't we?[That Tottenham is known as the push-and-run team for excelling in that regard].

Give the ball to me, and I'll knock it back to you and you'll go on with it - not even a shadow is faster than a wall pass, thought Danny. In the second half Tottenham went on to dominate and win the game and the Villa marker got upset as their whole plan fell apart.

Towards his peak he was a very complete deep lying playmaker[He was extremely mobile and would after he sent the ball forward move towards it to continue and influence the game], capable of winning matches on his own with perfect performances. "Against Leicester, the adventurous Irish genius rewarded the small crowd for their loyal support by giving them a taste of the glory a team can inspire to when driven by one of the greatest wing halfs in the world.

He played like a man possessed, controlling the greasy ball as if it were attached to his boots by a piece of strings, stepping over the slippery pitch, spraying the ball around with uncanny accuracy. He won every tackle, every challenge, every fight for possession. He was playing this match for one man: Danny Blanchflower."

Mario Coluna

Spoiler

"O Monstro Sagrado" was one of the key components of the successful Benfica side and is considered as one of the best offensive box to box midfielders around. Younger players as a sign of respect used to call him "Senhor Coluna" (mr. Coluna). Eusébio, to this day, still calls him Senhor Coluna.

After trying boxing, in unorthodox fights, with no coherent rules - circumstance that might have helped shape the combat spirit that always marked him - basketball and Track & Field (where, at around age 16, he established a national height jump record of 182,5 cm) Coluna started at football at age 15. He spent sixteen years with Benfica, and was a crucial part of one of the most successful periods in the club's history. In his first year at the club, Benfica won the Portuguese league and cup double, and by May 1955 Coluna was already a Portuguese international, making his debut in a 3-0 defeat against Scotland.

Over the next decade Coluna won a further six league titles and four Portuguese Cups as well as back to back European Cup wins in 1961 and 1962, scoring the winning goal himself in the 1961 final and also scoring on the 1962 final match. On the next final, in Wembley, against AC Milan, Coluna met Giovanni Trapattoni, that would later become Benfica's coach (2004/05) and a fan favourite in Estádio da Luz. The final against the Italian squad is of bad memory for Coluna since he was injured by a cynical Trapattoni tackle and SL Benfica lost it. Since no substitutions were allowed, Coluna bravely endured what he could of the game, even with a severely hurt foot. Santana, another Benfica player, was also "taken down" in that match by the brute AC Milan defence. Coluna said: "I'm thankful for the championship he has won for Benfica as a Benfica fan, but I can't forgive what he as done to me. He almost torn my foot in half. It was a pity, because we had the team to win that match, it should have happened. I was invited by an Italian TV Station to show up - together with Trapattoni - in 2005, for an interview. I showed up but he didn't. He didn't have the courage to look me in the eyes".

He played in a total of 5 European Cup finals in the 1960's. By 1966 he was the captain of the national team as Portugal qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in their history.

When playing the Intercontinental Cup, in Brazil - Maracanã Stadium - against Pelé's Santos, Brazilian reporters started calling him "The Didi of Portugal".

At the World Cup in England, he led the team through to the semi-finals, inspired by the goals of his Benfica team mate Eusébio. The host nation ended their dreams in the semi-final, but Portugal finished a creditable third. He was called to the FIFA XI, the following year, celebrating Zamora's 65th birthday, on a FIFA XI Vs Spain match. Helenio Herrera, the FIFA XI coach, gave him the captaincy of the team.

Back with Benfica, three more league titles and two more cup wins followed, and by the time Coluna left Benfica, in 1970, his total of honours had reached nineteen, including an amazing ten league titles. Coluna was a "protector". He didn't allow anyone to treat his colleagues on the pitch with lack of respect. His colleagues felt protected by his aura and the respect the opponents had for Coluna. His most intimidating sentence was: "If you touch that kid again you'll leave the pitch with one leg licking the other". It's possible that whoever fouled Simôes or Eusébio didn't know Coluna was a Boxer in his teens.

After nearly 700 appearances for Benfica, Coluna moved to France to end his career with Olympique Lyonnais. Following his retirement, Coluna went on to work in football administration, serving as President of the football federation in his native Mozambique, and during the 1990s he spent five years as Mozambique's Minister of Sport.

Strong at midfield, Coluna was known for the way he played on the field because of his elegant and efficient style. Coluna used to score long distance goals with ease. He was also known for his stamina, that allowed him to control all the areas of the field. In his early days in SL Benfica he was tested as a central forward by Otto Glória, but he achieved great notoriety as a central Midfielder.

 

[Annahnomoss]

Stanley Matthews

Spoiler

Brilliant bit which explains the uniqueness of Matthews as a teamplayer: "He compelled attention, which was very often his principal value when he was playing for England. It did not matter, least of all to Matthews, which of his side puts the ball in the net...

When he moved with the ball, shuffling, leaning, edging ever closer to the defender, he was always the man teetering to the very brink of disaster, and we waited breathlessly to see whether this time he would fail or whether yet again he would come swaying back at the last possible moment to run on clear and free... The sadly impassive face, pale lips and hooded eyes, had a lot of pain in it, the deep hurt that came from prolonged effort and the certainty of more blows.

It was a workers' face, like a miner's, never really young, tight against the brutal world even in repose... He was representative of his age and his class, brought up among thrift and the ever-looming threat of dole and debt."

Matthews had the ability to beat the best full backs in history consistently through a game and even dominate them and create goal after goal.

Video
Maybe the best LB in history - the 30-year-old Santos found himself confronted by Stanley Matthews , recalled to the England team at the age of 41. Santos, who later professed immense admiration for Matthews, could make nothing of him that afternoon. England won 4-2, but even that score flattered Brazil. Matthews was one of the few wingers ever to embarrass Santos.

"It was to be an experience for Nilton Santos (nutmegged above left). Though Brazil exhibited their flamboyance, Matthews shredded his opponent's reputation: enticing him to within kneecap range like a matador, leaving him in a heap, having lunged off-balance for a vanished ball.

The maestro's touch led to each of England's goals, Brazil having drawn level soon after half-time after going two down early in the game. As Didi reflected: "The play of Matthews was an exhibition of his genius – an extraordinary player in the same class as Garrincha. I never thought a player that age could do what he did."

Francisco "Paco" Gento

Spoiler

One of the greatest wingers in history Francisco Gento Lopez was born in Guarnizo, Cantabria, 21 October 1933. Son of a truck driver, left school at fourteen to help his father and take care of the cows they had on a small farm. As a child when he ran around Guarnizo, he dreamed of playing for Racing de Santander. Never thought his name would be a world football legend and he would be considered the best left midfielder of all time.

“The Strom of Cantabria” Francisco Gento is the most successful footballer in club level hold the all-time record the most champions of Spanish La Liga with 12 and the most European Cup Winners with 6, additionally holds with Paulo Maldini the record most appearances in European Cup final with 8. Gento was noted not only for having great speed (he used to be an athlete in his youth and could run 100 metres in 11 seconds flat and was almost as quick with a ball at his feet), but also for his skills with the ball and his relatively high scoring capabilities given his position. In 1963, He was selected as a start FIFA World XI against England. Gento totally played for Real Madrid 605 games and scored 183 goals. All in all, He is considered as one of the greatest Spanish footballers of all-time as well as the best left-winger in the world between the late 1950s to early 1960s. Incredibly, He never voted in top five Ballon d’Or in any year.

At that time he started playing football in the “Nueva Montaña” team, alternating with the athletic sport, where he purchased the speed that made him famous as a footballer. Shortly afterwards went to the “Astilleros”. In this team and with only fourteen years, scored nine times in a regional championship game, earning him a move to “Rayo Cantabria”. In 1953 amounted to Racing Santander, where his name became a national attraction. Alvaro Bustamante’s references, vice-president of Real Madrid who was born in the same province that Gento, served that season to sign for the white team for a period of five years. His early performances for the club were a disaster and a disappointment. Extremely fast and lacks a polished technique, raids ended, most of the time, outside the boundaries of the pitch, forgetting the ball that was left behind.

The arrival of Héctor Rial, a fine Argentine midfielder managed to temper the speed of Gento and make him profitable. Passes over 40 yards on the boot of the Cantabrian were finished in impressive gallops by the band in which he moved the ball a few yards and ran after him, overflowing with all that is put in front. Only stopped when he approached the line of lime which delimits the end of the field, then he took out his left leg and threw a measured center to the head of Di Stefano, Puskas or any other striker in that wonderful team.

Francisco Gento always noted for his impressive speed and prodigious dribbling that left sitting all his rivals. This made him the most dangerous left side of the moment. Not noted for his height, but became the world's fastest extreme. Nobody at the time had his speed. Also had a terrible and powerful shot on goal.

Dixie Dean

Spoiler

Matt Busby - "To play against Dixie Dean was at once a delight and a nightmare. He was a perfect specimen of an athlete, beautifully proportioned, with immense strength, adept on the ground but with extraordinary skill in the air. However close you watched him, his timing in the air was such that he was coming down before you got anywhere near him, and he hit that ball with his head as hard and as accurate as most players could kick it. Defences were close to panic when corners came over. And though he scored a huge tally of goals with headers he was an incredibly unselfish and amazingly accurate layer-off of chances for others. He was resilient in face of the big, tough centre-halves of his clay - and I cannot think of one centre-half today to match up with that lot, though it was often the unstoppable force against the immovable object - and he was a thorough sportsman."

Eddie Hapgood - "Dixie Dean, a wizard with his feet, but just as deadly with his head, as strong as a house, and just as hard to knock off the ball, as clean in his play as a new pin, a great sportsman, and a trier to the end. Dixie was always a tough handful, not only because he was so big and fast, but because he used to roam out on to the wings, taking the centre-half with him, and, frequently, slipping him, making it extremely hard for the rest of the defence to keep some sort of order."

 

[Annahnomoss]

TACTICS - STOBZILLA

Cal has an immense team in terms of player quality but the balance of the team is not quite there, with Messi and Ronaldo looking a bit questionable being passengers in their defensive work and they would both want to be the main man.

Matthews and Gento are as good individually as Ronaldo and Robben and both Gento and Matthews will work hard defensively and are selfless team players to boost. Lahm was never quite as good on the left side as he was on the right side and Matthews already dominated Nilton Santos in his very peak who is some step above Lahm as a left back. Matthews wasn't just great at cutting inside like most current wingers, he was equally adept at using his dribbling to earn himself a yard to then use his wonderful crossing to pick out targets.

On the other side Alves is up against Gento, who is considered one of the greatest wingers ever. He had brilliant pace, dribbling and especially off the ball movement which Alves struggles against. He'll be free to make runs off the ball to cause as much havoc for Alves as possible while Stanley Matthews will play his usual game out wide right.

Up front I have Dixie Dean who as well will work hard while providing something different to the team with his physicality and a similar goalscoring ratio as Messi.

In the central midfield I have Lorenzo, who was a monster defensively, with Blanchflower and Coluna who were excellent in that regard as well. They will be sitting deep, looking to defend as a unit and as we win the ball Blanchflower and Coluna will move forward and orchestrate the attacks and make forward runs.

Camacho and Andrade will have a difficult job ahead of them but will try to stay on the right side of Ronaldo and Robben when in possession too. With Gento against Alves, and Matthews against Lahm this team will create goal scoring chances and who better than Dixie Dean inside the box to benefit of two great traditional wingers in Gento/Matthews who loved putting in crosses to the box as well as beating their men and setting up Dean.

Santamaria and Da Guia are world class defenders and will make the job difficult for Messi, and Ronaldo when he enters the box.

 

[Annahnomoss]

-----------------

--------------------------------TEAM STOBZILLA
----------------------------------------VS
------------------------------------TEAM CAL

My whole team needs no introduction, but here's a brief summary.

Tactics

The modern 4-3-3 played by most of the top teams, with basically a World XI in the last 2 or so decades, with the exception of Zidane, I honestly cannot think of any player in the last 20 years who'd definitely get into this side.

GK
Schmeichel 96-99, possibly the best goalkepper ever, playing a huge part in Denmark winning the Euro in 92, and helping United to The Treble in 1999.

DF
Rio and Vidic (both 06-09) form the basis of my defense, possibly United's best few years during Sir Alex's glorious reign, 3 titles, 2 Champions League finals whilst winning in 2008. I guess I don't need to go on about how good they were during that time.
Dani Alves (08-11), the best right back in the world for the past decade, during those 3 years, won La Liga 3 times and the CL twice with Barca, a key part of the Barca Sextuple.
Lahm (11-14), 2 Bundesliga titles, 2 CL finals, winning the Treble in 2013, and finally the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

MF
Makelele (00-03), possibly the best DM of all time with the position being named after him, La Liga in 01 and 03, the CL in 02, and Perez' ridiculous decision to sell him to Chelsea helped ensure La Decima took over another decade despite the numerous Galaticos that passed through Madrid.
Xavi (08-11), one of the best midfielders ever, he won everything there is to win in those 3 seasons, the World Cup, the Euro, 2 CLs, 3 La Ligas, including that Sextuple in 2009.
Schweinsteiger (11-14), a key player for Bayern and Germany as they challenged Barca's reign as the bestest team in the world ever ever, winning the Treble in 2013 and the World Cup in 2014.

FW
Cristiano Ronaldo (11-14), 166 goals for Real Madrid during those 3 seasons, Ballon d'Or 13 & 14, La Liga in 12 and finally La Decima in 2014, possibly the greatest player ever.
Messi (08-11), Ballon d'Or in all 3 years, winning everything with Barca, also possibly the greatest player ever.
Robben (11-14), some believe to the the 3rd best player in the world, a key player for Bayern's recent domination in Germany and also Treble winner in 2013.

Everything single one of them are CL winners, many are World Cup and/or Euro winners, the best 2 players in the world leading the attack.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

Cal? has a sick team.

 

[KM]

How on earth was Cal allowed to built such a team?

Monster.

 

[Pat_Mustard]

Really interesting game this with the contrast in eras. I'm not yet sold on the balance of Cal's attack, but Rio/Vidic is huge for me in terms of proven partnerships, and stylistically Vidic seems a really good fit to combat Stobz' main goal threat in Dean.

 

[Balu]

@Cal? has managed to build an incredible team despite only using modern footballers. Impressive. I'm not 100% sold on the midfield balance, I'd probably prefer Schweinsteiger as a DM and a more creative player next to Xavi, but then 08/09 Xavi would love to play throughballs to Ronaldo and Robben and 10/11 Messi was a brilliant false 9 who added more than enough creativity anyway when dropped deep. It also looks incredibly tough to break down with Makelele in there. I'm kinda surprised how much I like the team in an alltime context, but it's outstanding. Well done.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

I'm not yet sold on the balance of Cal's attack,

What needs selling? Messi providing through balls to Ronaldo and Robben is beyond perfect. Messi's passing game is the most underrated aspect about him, they're bloody super, at least equally as good as his shooting and, well first of all in a false 9 setup you don't get much better than Ronaldo as the goalscorer, and Robben adds the same thing in the other wing. I can see that team scoring against any defense.
The setup behind it is not far from perfect either - I would've wanted an Iniesta there but with Ronaldo and Robben also building attacks on their own I don't see a problem with no #10, there will be enough players to step up and move the ball forward in the final third. Lahm needs no arguing imo, not even against Matthews, Alves vs Gento is a bit weak defensively but Alves-Robben is deadly going forward. The midfield will also work perfectly imo, great balance and great team!

 

[crappycraperson]

I think you lose some of messi goal scoring with that front 3 but it is alright since you have ronaldo to make up for it. Robben will also see less of the ball than he would like to but he played that role well in Bayern's treble season. Ball hog robben is not that good anyway.

Only question mark is lahm on left. Cal should use different 3 year period for that?

 

[Balu]

Only question mark is lahm on left. Cal should use different 3 year period for that?

Yeah, it's 06-09 Lahm, if he's played on the left. Since summer 2009 Lahm only played on the left at the Euro 2012 and in the first half of the 11/12 season.

 

[Cutch]

Great seeing Gento and Matthews paired up again after i had them both in the sheep draft Having said that, Cal?'s team is ridiculous. The peak years of many of those players are among the best i have lived through

 

[Pat_Mustard]

What needs selling? Messi providing through balls to Ronaldo and Robben is beyond perfect. Messi's passing game is the most underrated aspect about him, they're bloody super, at least equally as good as his shooting and, well first of all in a false 9 setup you don't get much better than Ronaldo as the goalscorer, and Robben adds the same thing in the other wing. I can see that team scoring against any defense.
The setup behind it is not far from perfect either - I would've wanted an Iniesta there but with Ronaldo and Robben also building attacks on their own I don't see a problem with no #10, there will be enough players to step up and move the ball forward in the final third. Lahm needs no arguing imo, not even against Matthews, Alves vs Gento is a bit weak defensively but Alves-Robben is deadly going forward. The midfield will also work perfectly imo, great balance and great team!

Just that they're all used to being the main man and being somewhat self-indulgent in possession (Messi aside) to varying degrees. Like Crappy says something has to give in terms of them all scoring at peak levels. I agree on Messi's passing. Personally its the aspect of his game I enjoy watching most, even ahead of his dribbling and finishing. I see now that Cal has selected 2008-2011 as Messi's peak which is a great move actually, sacrificing his absolute scoring peak for the still incredibly prolific but more selfless performances of that earlier period.

 

[Annahnomoss]

Yeah, it's 06-09 Lahm, if he's played on the left. Since summer 2009 Lahm only played on the left at the Euro 2012 and in the first half of the 11/12 season.

That pushes me and makes me decide to vote for myself. Can't overlook that fact. COMEBACK IS ON, FACHT! 1-10

 

[Šjor Bepo]

have to say im not the biggest fan of cal's team.....i just cant see Ronaldo and Messi work together in the same team. On paper it looks good, Ronaldo's strengths are just perfect for the role he is having but nevertheless i cant see it.
And while both Robben and Ronaldo have goals from the wings and Ronaldo has great off the ball movement, the big part of their game is making selfless runs to create space for Messi, i cant see either doing that. Not to mention that all three wants to be the main man, specially Ronaldo and Messi and i cant see how would they work together.

With Messi as a false nine, two inside forwards, Xavi and Dani Alves in the team its obvious that the plan is to play like Barcelona. While Makelele and Schweini are both fantastic they are the wrong personnel for this tactic. You can say that because of this two the team is stronger defensively but i dont agree, that team was special as they defended through high pressure and possession and with this two in midfield instead of Busquets and Iniesta this team wouldnt be dominate in possession and then you see the other problems in the team.
Lahm has the wrong peak as he didnt play on the left then and Dani Alves is great for Barca but i have big question marks about this team playing that way so in fact i have big question marks for Alves. The one part im impressed with cal's team is centerback pairing



Later will look stobz's team as i dont have a clue about 90% players there

 

[Annahnomoss]

Later will look stobz's team as i dont have a clue about 90% players there

Antohan would tell you to read up on Lorenzo/Andrade and I would tell you to read up on Blanchflower. Blanchflower was one of those rare deep lying playmakers who was also very good defensively, extremely mobile and he played this position in his peak - rather than converting later like many deep lying playmakers has done.

One of the best central midfielders in history without a doubt. Balu knows more about Coluna than I do, but also a fantastic central midfielder but more an offensive box to box midfielder with a great goalscoring record to boost.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

Just that they're all used to being the main man and being somewhat self-indulgent in possession (Messi aside) to varying degrees. Like Crappy says something has to give in terms of them all scoring at peak levels. I agree on Messi's passing. Personally its the aspect of his game I enjoy watching most, even ahead of his dribbling and finishing. I see now that Cal has selected 2008-2011 as Messi's peak which is a great move actually, sacrificing his absolute scoring peak for the still incredibly prolific but more selfless performances of that earlier period.

Maybe so but most of these drafted guys in attacks used being main men, if you put Maradona and Pele together in a draft it will be amazing although both used to be leaders

 

[Stobzilla]

Cal? Deserves to go through for more reasons than his team, but seeing as we are in play, I will oblige.

feck his team.

 

[Stobzilla]

To be fair to me, his flanks are prime for tearing apart. Gento is going to, on occaision have a free run at his centre backs and Matthews is going to be left 1 v 1 with Lahm for much of the game as well.

 

[zing]

That is some team from Cal.

 

[antohan]

Wow! Tough luck @Stobzilla, another first round whitewash.

Terrible draw against what is not far from the best modern side you could realistically put together.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I hope next round gets Cal and Aldo facing each other.

That way the rest of us have a chance to progress!

 

[Annahnomoss]

Wow! Tough luck @Stobzilla, another first round whitewash.

Terrible draw against what is not far from the best modern side you could realistically put together.

This is no place for reason and logic. Go with the feelings and more importantly, listen to yourself(Andrade/Lorenzo) - Vote Stobzilla.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Tbh, I rate Stobz midfield better. Gento will have his moments against Alves and Rio to bail out. Quite unsure on Dean though.

Does Stobz have anyone on the bench?

 

[antohan]

This is no place for reason and logic. Go with the feelings and more importantly, listen to yourself(Andrade/Lorenzo) - Vote Stobzilla.

It would be a great disservice to the greatness of those (and pretty much everyone in that side) to just give them a vote out of sympathy.

They could win this game, no doubt, and I really like Stobz' side, but it's a modern side vs. a golden oldie side and I can't ignore the fact the modern side would have more weapons in its locker to control the game and get a result.

That said, there's a clear disconnect between Makelele and the Barca style, looks like it would have to be more direct/counterattacking which would make for an end to end game where Stobz midfield may prevail.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Drop Coluna for Ceulemans in a 4-2-3-1, probably!

 

[Annahnomoss]

Tbh, I rate Stobz midfield better. Gento will have his moments against Alves and Rio to bail out. Quite unsure on Dean though.

Does Stobz have anyone on the bench?

I can't talk bad about Ferdinand and Vidic, that is about as good as it gets in my eyes with a proven partnership and two top players. I cringe myself when I see Vidic being replaced by some individually very slight upgrade while you lose the entire partnership. Dean may have earned his goal scoring ratio in an era where the top goal scorer in England always scored abnormal amounts. But he is an impeccable finisher, and in the air he is about as good as you get while still being considered a "wizard with his feet".

He's more than good enough to keep Vidic and Ferdinand on their heels with his off the ball runs and while he does Alves will be alone against Gento and Matthews will be up against Lahm which will yield in a couple of very good chances in the game. When the full back is dribbled past or they found space behind them with a run it is always a great chance no matter who the centre-backs are.

I can see Lahm with little support from Cristiano having a difficult time against Matthews who just needs to earn half a second with his dribbling to put a good cross in and he'll get through Lahm here and there in the game as well. He created 4 goals for England against Nilton Santos, which is the greatest performance I've ever seen from a winger in my life.

I agree about Alves having a difficult job against Gento too, especially if he wants to play his natural offensive role. Not saying that Stobz would win because of those reasons though but Matthews and Gento are two of the best wingers in history too.

 

[Annahnomoss]

Drop Coluna for Ceulemans in a 4-2-3-1, probably!

I think Coluna is a good fit considering that Cal will dominate possession. Three defensively very strong midfielders that still has world class playmaking/long passes from Blanchflower and a very good box-to-box goal threat from Coluna.

"Coluna was a "protector". He didn't allow anyone to treat his colleagues on the pitch with lack of respect. His colleagues felt protected by his aura and the respect the opponents had for Coluna. His most intimidating sentence was: "If you touch that kid again you'll leave the pitch with one leg licking the other".

Lorenzo and Coluna has the concentration, stamina and will to lead a team to a victory against a tiring possession team. At least that was the reasoning for me when I decided who to play.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

You don't need Coluna. Cal's front 3 will be behind Coluna anyway. Put two DM's and get your attacking threat up.

 

[Annahnomoss]

You don't need Coluna. Cal's front 3 will be behind Coluna anyway. Put two DM's and get your attacking threat up.

I don't think he has a DM available. Danny Blanchflower who was an attacking right half and defensively very solid while being a playmaker is the second most defensive option he has. He's not someone who would stay back and screen the defense by any means but rather someone who would run the game, from rather deep, with his great passing range and playmaking.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Probably should be closer, this.

Realistically, I think Gento, in particular, would destroy Alves in this Barca'esque set-up with Makelele (who isn't an ideal fit, as others have pointed out). And, yes, it's possible to question the balance of that trio up front. It has to be the sort of questioning which goes right to the core of the fantasy team versus realistic “chemistry”, though. None of them are out of position. Ideally, it would be an insane trio.

Trouble for team Stobz is that you lose the very part of Dean's game which might've made a real difference in a match like this when you field a couple of wingers like Matthews and Gento: They're immense dribblers, two of the best in the history of the game – but they're not much for getting on the end of short pass (head or foot) from Dean. He excelled at that – in addition to being a goal machine. But he'd need a different type of winger in order to play that game.

As it stands, they will have to feed him – and very little of the reverse. And the midfield trio looks a bit stationary all things said and done – grand players, but hardly threats in the box. Dean might grab a goal (I'd say he will grab a goal if the play flows back and forth) but that trio on the other side will grab more – there's just no way around that.

Unlucky draw for Stobz, really. Could have easily won against most teams.

 

[Annahnomoss]

Probably should be closer, this.

Realistically, I think Gento, in particular, would destroy Alves in this Barca'esque set-up with Makelele (who isn't an ideal fit, as others have pointed out). And, yes, it's possible to question the balance of that trio up front. It has to be the sort of questioning which goes right to the core of the fantasy team versus realistic “chemistry”, though. None of them are out of position. Ideally, it would be an insane trio.

Trouble for team Stobz is that you lose the very part of Dean's game which might've made a real difference in a match like this when you field a couple of wingers like Matthews and Gento: They're immense dribblers, two of the best in the history of the game – but they're not much for getting on the end of short pass (head or foot) from Dean. He excelled at that – in addition to being a goal machine. But he'd need a different type of winger in order to play that game.

As it stands, they will have to feed him – and very little of the reverse. And the midfield trio looks a bit stationary all things said and done – grand players, but hardly threats in the box. Dean might grab a goal (I'd say he will grab a goal if the play flows back and forth) but that trio on the other side will grab more – there's just no way around that.

Unlucky draw for Stobz, really. Could have easily won against most teams.

I think Matthews was very complete in this regard. What made him special was that he had such a strong 1 vs 1 game, easily up there with the very best in history. He wouldn't just beat his winger and then whip in a cross, that was rather his second choice and preferably he would leave his man behind and cut inside.

This is Stanley Matthews in a nutshell;

Coluna was also a very good goalscorer and definitely a threat inside or outside the box. He scored one goal every three games which is outstanding for a central midfielder, even if his short stint up front would have stained those numbers a bit probably.

Need to go and no need to change the vote, just wanted to put it out there.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Yeah, well. All's relative. Like I said, against most sides this would've been enough. It ain't here, though. You need more of an obvious, undeniable goal threat. Neither Matthews nor Gento are goal scoring wingers in the sense you need here. You need someone like Best to interact with Dean - that's the level we're on, given what the opposition is fielding.

Alternatively you need a dedicated AM who's more of an obvious, offensive force than Coluna. It's very well that he's an excellent, rounded player who can do both this and that - but it's the context again.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I don't think he has a DM available. Danny Blanchflower who was an attacking right half and defensively very solid while being a playmaker is the second most defensive option he has. He's not someone who would stay back and screen the defense by any means but rather someone who would run the game, from rather deep, with his great passing range and playmaking.

I meant Lorenzo and Blanchflower are sufficient. Get Ceulemans in there and with Gento advantage this'll be a better match up.

 

[Moby]

Given Messi's stock right now and Cristiano's fanbase on this site it was a brilliant coup by Cal to get this side together. Very difficult to see it being out voted.

 

[Ish]

Cal? has a ridiculous side. Add the fact that most of his team plays in the current era (which the caf would have seen first hand)....it's almost unfair!

 

[Moby]

And also the fact that this side had the greatest man to touch the ball so it probably deserves it anyway.

 

[antohan]

You don't need Coluna. Cal's front 3 will be behind Coluna anyway. Put two DM's and get your attacking threat up.

Coluna is actually the one making Stobz' midfield superior. It's the one area of the pitch where he clearly has the upper hand IMO.

Cal's attack tends to drift inside while Stobz stretches the defence better. When you stretch a defence you want top midfielders supporting Dean and Coluna will do that superbly.